Four Steps to Living Out Your Identity in Christ

Where Are You From?

It's a simple question I find myself asking all the time. An easy small talk question when getting to know someone. Eventually, the question gets asked back and I've found my response changes based on who I'm talking to. If I'm on vacation a few states away, I generally just say "Indiana." But if I'm talking with someone from Indiana, I'll say "North of Lebanon." It becomes more specific depending on the audience.

That's what Peter is doing in today's passage in 1 Peter 2. Peter calls us strangers and exiles. We don't belong to this world. We're just passing through. But here's the question: If we aren't from here, where are we from?

That's exactly what Peter answers. And here's what he's going to show us. Salvation isn't just about being rescued from something. It's about being chosen for something. You're not just saved. You're built into something for a purpose.

Peter gives us a four-part process. Grow up in your salvation. Be built into God's house. Embrace your new identity. Live out your calling.

Grow Up in Your Salvation

Peter starts chapter 2 with verse 1:

"So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech."

Notice that little word "so." That's connecting this to what Peter just said at the end of chapter 1. He just told us to love each other deeply with all our hearts. Now he's saying, "So, here's what has to go if you're going to do that."

The Greek word here for "rid" means to strip off, like removing dirty clothes. This isn't a gradual fading. This is decisive action. You take off the old shirt and throw it in the trash. You don't keep it in the closet just in case.

And look at what Peter lists. Evil behavior. Deceit. Hypocrisy. Jealousy. Unkind speech. Why these five? Because all of them destroy community. You can't love deeply while harboring evil behavior. You can't love with all your heart while practicing deceit.

Which of these things are mucking up your relationships? What needs to be stripped off before we can grow? Is it resentment toward someone? A grudge you've been nursing? Gossip that you participate in?

So strip it off. And then, verses 2-3:

"Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness."

Picture a hungry infant. When they're hungry, they won't be satisfied until fed. They get fussy. They cry. They won't rest until they're fed. Milk for a baby isn't optional. It's necessary for survival.

When's the last time you were that hungry for God's Word? When's the last time you couldn't wait to open your Bible? When's the last time you felt like something was missing if you didn't get into Scripture?

The "pure spiritual milk" Peter talks about is God's Word. It's pure, meaning unadulterated, not watered down. And notice the goal: "So that you will grow into a full experience of salvation." You're not just growing for growing's sake. You're growing into something.

Be Built Into God's House

Verse 4-5 continues:

"You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests."

Christ is the living cornerstone. The cornerstone was the first stone laid. Every measurement, every angle, every wall was aligned to it. If the cornerstone was off, the whole building would be crooked. Christ sets the alignment for everything.

The world rejected Him. But God chose Him for great honor. And here's the pattern for believers. The world may reject you too. But if you're aligned with Christ, God's evaluation is what matters.

Look at the transformation. Christ is the living cornerstone, singular. Believers become living stones, plural. We derive our "living" quality from union with Him. And notice who's doing the building. "God is building." Present tense. Ongoing construction. God is the builder, not us. We're the materials.

In an old house, you can't just knock out any wall you want. Some walls are load-bearing. Remove them and the whole structure weakens. Every living stone in God's house is load-bearing. We don't all hold up the same weight, but we all have a place and function.

You are not optional to this church. You're not just attending. You're being built in. Your presence, your prayers, your service, your love, they're load-bearing. When you're not here, the structure is weaker.

And here's what makes God's house different from any other building. Every stone has a job to do. "What's more, you are his holy priests." This is revolutionary. In Israel, only Levites could be priests. Now? Every believer is a priest. Every single one.

This is why we emphasize the priesthood of all believers. There's no special clergy class with exclusive access to God. The farmer in the field is as much a priest as anyone behind a pulpit. Monday morning at the factory? That's your temple. The tractor cab? That's your sanctuary. You're a priest wherever you are.

Embrace Your New Identity

Verse 9 declares:

"But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light."

This is declaration, not aspiration. Peter doesn't say "try to become" or "work toward being." He says "you are." Present tense. Right now. This is who you are.

Four identity markers:

A chosen people. Not based on ethnicity or nationality. God looked at you and said, "I choose you."

Royal priests. Royalty and priesthood combined in Christ. In Israel, these were strictly separate. But in Christ, believers have both.

A holy nation. A new people transcending all ethnic or geographic boundaries. Set apart for God's purposes.

God's very own possession. You were bought at great cost, the precious blood of Christ. You belong to Him.

Now here's the critical part. Look at the purpose: "As a result, you can show others the goodness of God." Four identities all point to one purpose. Show others the goodness of God. That's what you're here for.

When's the last time you showed someone the goodness of God? You don't need a seminary degree. You don't need theological training. You just need your story. "I was in darkness. He called me into His wonderful light. Let me tell you about Him."

Verse 10 summarizes the transformation:

"Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy."

In a world that tells you to "find yourself" and "create your truth," Peter says your identity is declared over you by God. You don't have to earn it. You don't have to discover it. You receive it. Chosen. Royal. Holy. His very own.

Live Out Your Calling

Verse 11-12:

"Dear friends, I warn you as 'temporary residents and foreigners' to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world."

There's that identity again. Temporary residents and foreigners. You don't belong here and you're not staying long. And Peter says worldly desires wage war against your very souls. This is military language. The enemy isn't just outside you. It's inside you.

Notice Peter doesn't say "withdraw from your unbelieving neighbors." He says "live properly among them." This isn't isolation. This is witness. You're supposed to be present, not withdrawn.

In a small town, everyone knows everyone. Your witness isn't hidden. When believers treat their employees fairly, people notice. When church families show up to help after a tragedy, people notice. When believers respond to accusations with grace, people notice.

Your honorable behavior creates curiosity. And curiosity creates opportunity. They start asking questions. "Why are you like this? What's different about you?" And you get to tell them.

The Main Point

You're not just saved. You're chosen for a purpose. Salvation isn't just rescue from darkness. It's calling into His wonderful light with a mission attached.

You are a chosen people, so show others God's goodness. You are royal priests, so offer spiritual sacrifices everywhere you go. You are a holy nation, so live distinctly. You are God's very own possession, so represent your Owner well.

Here's the truth. You can't fulfill your purpose alone. You can't be a living stone sitting by yourself in a corner. You have to be built together with other believers. That's how the temple gets constructed. That's how the world sees God's goodness.

You're not optional. You're load-bearing. Your presence matters. Your service matters. Your prayers matter. Your love matters.

Find your fit in the building. Identify one way you can actively contribute to your church family. Living stones don't sit in a pile. They get placed in the wall.

Small Group Questions

ICE BREAKER QUESTIONS

1. When someone asks "Where are you from?" how does your answer change depending on who you're talking to? (Like Pastor Nate saying "Indiana" vs. "North of Lebanon" vs. "Colfax") Why do we adjust our answers based on context?

2. Think about a time you were part of building or constructing something—even if it was just assembling furniture or helping with a project. What happened when a piece was missing or didn't fit properly? How did that affect the whole structure?

Small Group Discussion Guide

"You're Chosen for a Purpose" - 1 Peter 2:1-12

Series: Not From Here

ICE BREAKER QUESTIONS

1. When someone asks "Where are you from?" how does your answer change depending on who you're talking to? (Like Pastor Nate saying "Indiana" vs. "North of Lebanon" vs. "Colfax") Why do we adjust our answers based on context?

2. Think about a time you were part of building or constructing something—even if it was just assembling furniture or helping with a project. What happened when a piece was missing or didn't fit properly? How did that affect the whole structure?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Peter starts 1 Peter 2 by commanding us to "get rid of" (literally "strip off") five specific things: evil behavior, deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and unkind speech. The sermon pointed out that all five destroy community. Which of these is most toxic in your relationships right now? What would it look like to decisively strip it off rather than gradually fade it away?

2. Peter says we should crave God's Word "like newborn babies" crave milk (1 Peter 2:2-3)—hungry, persistent, urgent. The sermon asked: When's the last time you were that hungry for Scripture? What would need to change in your life for you to crave God's Word with that kind of intensity?

3. The sermon explained that "growth isn't the end goal—you grow up so that you can be built into something bigger than yourself." Many Christians focus solely on personal spiritual growth. How does understanding that growth is FOR being built together with others change your perspective on spiritual maturity?

4. Peter calls Christ "the living cornerstone" and believers "living stones" being built into God's spiritual temple (1 Peter 2:4-5). The sermon said every stone is "load-bearing"—when you're not there or disconnected, there's a gap in the wall. Do you really believe your presence and participation matters that much to your church? Why or why not?

5. Peter declares that "you are his holy priests" (1 Peter 2:5), meaning every believer has direct access to God and represents Him wherever they are. The sermon said your workplace, tractor cab, kitchen, or classroom is your temple and altar. How does viewing your Monday morning job as priestly service change the way you approach your work?

6. The sermon warned: "Only one cornerstone can bear the weight of your life. Build on anything else and your building will be crooked." What have you been using as your cornerstone instead of Christ—career, family, financial security, politics? How can you tell when something other than Christ has become your foundation?

7. Peter gives four identity markers in verse 9: chosen people, royal priests, holy nation, God's very own possession. The sermon emphasized these are declarations ("you ARE"), not aspirations. Which of these four identities is hardest for you to believe about yourself? Why?

8. The purpose of all four identities is the same: "show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). The sermon said you don't need a seminary degree—just your story. When's the last time you actually showed someone God's goodness or shared your story of being called out of darkness? What holds you back?

9. Peter calls us "temporary residents and foreigners" and warns that "worldly desires wage war against your very souls" (1 Peter 2:11). This is military language—the enemy is inside you fighting for your soul. What specific worldly desires are currently waging war against you? How does remembering you're just "passing through" help you fight back?

10. The sermon ended with a challenge to "find your fit in the building" by actively serving in ministry or joining a Life Group. Looking at the attendance chart Pastor Nate showed, where do you honestly fit? What's preventing you from increasing your involvement by even one Sunday a month? What's one specific step you could take this month to be "built in" rather than sitting on the sidelines?